The Phantom Ship eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 514 pages of information about The Phantom Ship.

The Phantom Ship eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 514 pages of information about The Phantom Ship.
Krantz under arrest, and proceeded to put into execution his insane intentions.  In this he was, however, prevented by the seamen of the Lion, who neither wished to fire upon their consort, nor to be fired at in return.  The report of the boat’s crew had been circulated through the ship, and the men felt too much ill-will against the Admiral, and perceived at the same time the extreme difficulty of their situation, to wish to make it worse.  They did not proceed to open mutiny, but they went down below, and when the officers ordered them up, they refused to go upon deck; and the officers, who were equally disgusted with the Admiral’s conduct, merely informed him of the state of the ship’s company, without naming individuals, so as to excite his resentment against any one in particular.  Such was the state of affairs when the sun went down.  Nothing had been done on board the Admiral’s ship, for Krantz was under arrest, and the Admiral had retired in a state of fury to his cabin.

In the meantime Philip and the ship’s company had not been idle—­they had laid an anchor out astern, and hove taut:  they had started all the water, and were pumping it out, when a boat pulled alongside, and Krantz made his appearance on deck.

“Captain Vanderdecken, I have come to put myself under your orders, if you will receive me—­if not, render me your protection; for, as sure as fate, I should have been hanged to-morrow morning, if I had remained in my own ship.  The men in the boat have come with the same intention—­that of joining you, if you will permit them.”

Although Philip would have wished it had been otherwise, he could not well refuse to receive Krantz, under the circumstances of the case.  He was very partial to him, and to save his life, which certainly was in danger, he would have done much more.  He desired that the boat’s crew should return; but when Krantz had stated to him what had occurred on board the Lion, and the crew earnestly begged him not to send them back to almost certain death, which their having effected the escape of Krantz would have assured, Philip reluctantly allowed them to remain.

The night was tempestuous, but the wind being now off shore, the water was not rough.  The crew of the Dort, under the directions of Philip and Krantz, succeeded in lightening the vessel so much during the night that the next morning they were able to haul her off, and found that her bottom had received no serious injury.  It was fortunate for them that they had not discontinued their exertions, for the wind shifted a few hours before sunrise, and by the time that they had shipped their rudder, it came on to blow fresh down the Straits, the wind being accompanied with a heavy swell.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Phantom Ship from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.